Societe Generale Valley Black Ladies tomorrow begin >span class="s12">defence of the Women’s Premiership Grand Championship, currently at three successive titles, with a semi-final against Borrelli Walsh USRC Tigers. In the other semi-final, league champions ECO Gai Wu Falcons take on KPMG Women's Premiership Development top finishers Transact 24 Tai Po Dragons.

Valley’s player-coach Bella Milo is keen to see her side playing again, after a long break, but is clearly hopeful that >span class="s12"> are on track for yet another appearance in the final.

“It’s the most exciting time of the year, the Grand Championships are the big test – the pinnacle of club rugby. We’re all a little bit nervous and excited at the same time.  Going into this match with Tigers with so little recent match time is not ideal, but we’ve had a couple of good training sessions that have given us a little bit of confidence,” she said.

“Our last game against Tigers was high quality and high scoring, and we’re expecting something similar this time. That was a fast running game, and likely this will be too, so whoever has the most ball will probably win. We held on to possession well then, and if we repeat that on Saturday we can make it through to the final,”notes Milo.

Milo and her team have done their homework on Tigers, and pinpoint Lara Schats as a threat they need shut down.  Tigers don’t always have great continuity, she says, and is confident if her side hold up their level of play, they will make another appearance.

>span class="s12">Shan Pong and Stephanie Cuvelier away, Kelsie Bouttle at school in Australia, and Rebecca Thomson, out with afractured cheekbone sustained in training – all in addition to several missing since Christmas. With Valley’s second team also in semi-final action this weekend, Milo has to work with a slim bench, of four forwards and one back.

Tigers go into the match buoyed by the match fitness of last week’ssolid quarter-final win over SCAA First Pacific Causeway Bay Phoenix, and while coach Fan Shun Kei is in no doubt that Valley will provide stiffer opposition, he takes confidence from encounters between the two sides early >span class="s12"> the season, including a four-try38-20 loss in >span class="s12">. 

“We played them twice this year, and did quite well. Our attack is looking really good this year, we just need to keep on doing in attack what we did in that last game, when we have the ball. We’ll use our speed out wide, and try to force penalties by putting them under pressure,” said Fan. 

“It will be a bonus if we can get into the finals.  Valley are strong and skillful, with especial threats in Bella and Aroha Savage.  GaiWu have beaten Valley, so we know they can be undone. So our focus has to be on defence, and also tackling.  I want our players to believe in themselves and go firmly into one-on-one tackles, a bit more aggressive,” he adds.

Like Valley, Tigers have to work with some absences from their ideal squad, including veteran Lindsay Varty and captain Jessica Ho. Fan has called on the services of second-team flanker Maylynn Ng, who has featured before but never started, aiming to strengthen >span class="s12"> ball carrying and defending. Lai Pou Fan will move to No. 9 from her usual full back.